F E AT U R E
University of Sydney OT Students Stepping in to Support Communities Sanetta du Toit, Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney
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lthough COVID-19 created numerous challenges for students—especially limited opportunities to complete placements—it also created new avenues to promote occupational therapy services. An ongoing partnership between the University of Sydney School of Health Sciences and the Red Cross resulted in a role-emerging placement focused on community dwelling and residential-based older adults, and how to promote collective, meaningful engagement for these clients1. Between 17 August 2020 and 11 December 2020, eight in-country and four offshore occupational therapy students engaged in 13 placement opportunities to introduce occupational therapy input to Telecross and the Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) programs.
Creating Community Connections
Many older people living in the community are lonely, and reach out to service providers like Red Cross helplines. This intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a lack of social and community support increasing risks of social isolation, boredom, and physical deterioration in older adults.
Induction day at Cumberland Sydney School of Health Sciences Campus on 17 August 2020 38 otaus.com.au
Occupational therapy students followed up clients referred from the Telecross program, and used an on-line application, GENIE2,3,4 (Generating Engagement in Networks Involvement), to re-establish and expand networks for older, lonely, and isolated adults in the community. For one inner city client, 87, who had been social all his life, contact with the occupational therapy students made him realise how much he had become isolated. He had no family, had outlived most of his social group, and had mobility issues. The client told Red Cross community project officer Helen Barns that having visitors “brought out the person I used to be. I used to love socialising, but because I can’t really leave my flat, I don’t get out. Having the students come around has made a big difference. I look forward to seeing them each week and will miss them very much”. He is now having regular weekly visits from a volunteer, and with the encouragement of the students has gone to several meetings at Counterpoint, an outreach centre close to home.
Besides building client networks, students also ensured that clients who needed extra services were referred on. Another inner city client, 80, also reported to Helen how much he appreciated the occupational therapy input. “They made a real difference to my life. Just by raising the toilet seat two inches it has made it easier for me to use the bathroom. It’s amazing how much it has changed my life. It’s amazing that they were able to see little things that I didn’t think about. I am getting a new bed as well, which will make a difference to me. I will be able to get in and out of bed without problems, and I will have a proper mattress. I’m having surgery soon and it will make a big difference. I can’t tell you how much they have changed my life,” he said. For older adults living in the Shoalhaven area, receiving telecare input from a health professional—in this case, based in Canada!—had a positive impact. Another Red Cross Staff member reported at a joint services meeting that, “I spoke with a client today to organise follow-ups. The client wanted to pass on how thankful
Jordan Goldberg in front of her computer working on a GENIE map
